Boiler feed pump



W. E. THOMAS BOILER FEED PUMP July 3, 1945.

Filed Feb. 5, 1944 9 like for operating the feed pump. e

A further object is to provide a novel connect struction.

Patented July 3, 1945 Walter E. Thomas, Jefferson, I'owa, assignor of one-half to Leslie W. Griswold, Coopeiglowa Appueauonrebraary 3, 1944, Serial No. 520,390 p y 11 Claims, (01. 122 -451) My invention relates to a boiler feed pump which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

One object 'of the invention is to provide a boiler feed pump which does not have to operate against boiler pressure for forcing water into the boiler,

thereby effecting an economy of operation due to less power required for its operation.

Another object is to provide a feedwater pump otthe reciprocating type wherein steam is introduced on one side of the pump piston when the other side is open to the boiler during the feed stroke of the piston, thereby permitting the use of e a relatively small power steam engine or the tion between the power mean for the: feed water pump and the water pumpingpiston aswellas the water andsteam control valves of :the pump, whereby the water pumping piston travelsitspfull stroke before the valvesare shifted, the valves thereupon being shifted for reversing the stroke,

and, during the reverse movement, the pump piston bein picked up by the power means foreffectin'g the reverse stroke ofthe piston itself.

With these and other objects in view, my invenf tionl consists in the. construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts ofmy device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed-out in dreiwingQwherein:

my claims andillustrated in the accompanying Figure 1 isa verticalsectional view through a boiler feed pump embodying my invention and showing a steam cylinder and piston type of power mean for operating the same, connections to the boiler and to a water reservoir being showndiagrammatically. p i n v e 1 Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view' on the line 2- -2 of'Figure 1 to illustrate details of con- Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view similarto Figure 1 showing the parts in a difierent position; and T Figure 4 is a sectional View similar to a portion of Figure 1, showing various positions assumed by the connecting means between the power means,

the water pumping piston and the control valves ofthepumpw i I i Onthe accompanying drawing I have pused the reference numeral ID to indicate a base on which is mounted a boiler feed pump P and a steam engine E for operating the same.- The pump P comprises a cylinder I2 having a water piston .13 therein. A piston rod l4 extends; from the piston-l3 through a packinggland l5 :and terminates in an abutment memberLIBQ The member IE-is guided on away I! which is a cross piece between sideplates 18 of ajvalve actuating head. Thesides of the abutment member 16 are guided by the sides 18, as shownin Figurez.

\ Water inlet and outlet connections I Qand "20 are providedfor the left hand end of cylinder l2,

and steam inlet and outlet connections zfand 22 are provided for the right hand end thereon Balanced plunger type, valves 24 and 25 are provided for controlling the flow of water and steam to and from thefcylinder l2. The plunger 24 has awater scontrolsection 2B which is merely a redu ced portion on the plunger. It also has a similar steam- "control section 21 and theplunger 25 has water and steam Icontrol" sections 28 and 129. The plungers 24 and 25 are sealedyrelativelyto the pump P,

each by two packing gglands 30, as shown in Figurelg u .y

1 An intake check valve 3 I is associated with the water inlet connection 19 and the connections l9 1 and 22 extendto a reservoir R while th'e connectionsf2lland 2| extend to a boiler B'. The connection I9 is adapted to receive water fromkthe piece 33in addition to the cross piece l1, thetwo and suitably pinnedtherein. V y

bottomof the reservoir B. and theconnection 22 to discharge ,steam and/or'water intotheflreservoir, an outlet to atmosphere being shown at 32.

The connections!!! and 2| are at'about the desiredwaterlevelintheboilerB, Theva lve actuating head l8 includes a cross cross pieces b ingguided on abar 34 extending from a standard 35 of the base It) [The head I8 is thereby guided and is;operativelypconnected with the plungers 24 and 25 by the plungers extending into hubs. 36 and 31ofthe va1ve 'actuatinghead The st am-Iengine E consists; of a cylinder 38 mountedon the base I 0 and havinga power piston 39 therein. 1 A" piston rod 40 extends from p the piston 39, throughra packinglgland 4} tea cross j head 42.' The cross head 42 is guided in upper the sides l8, which and lower ways 43 and. and includes ta, wrist A pair of connecting rods 46 areconnected the wristpin and extend in Figure 1 toward the; left outside of thesidesll; of the valve actuating head. A cross pin fl connects the left hand ends off'the connecting rods 46 together. This pin is guided in avpair of similar slots 48 of slots have upwardly inclined ends49 and50 A n i l A balanced pistonvalve 5| associated with the power piston 39 for controlling-the flow of steam thereto therefrom in the usual man- .der I2.

In the operation of my boiler feed pump, when the valves' 24, 25 and are in the position of Figure l,'steam'enters from the steam pipe 53 and acts on the right hand end of the power piston 39 to force it toward the left, as indicated by the arrow A. .At this time the water and steam sections 26 and 21 of the valve 24 are open, so that water in the left hand end of the cylinder l2 may be forced through'the connection into the boiler. may flow out of the boiler through the connection 2 I and into the right hand end of the cylin- There is, therefore, a substantial balance between opposite sides of the piston I3 except for the area of the piston rod 14, and consequently it does not take much power to move the piston. A

, relatively small power piston 39 may therefore be provided, thusreducing'the initial expense and likewise operating expense is reduced because there is less displacement and consequently less steam is needed to operate the power piston 39. Adjacent the end of the stroke, the abutment member IE or rather a cam face 16a thereof,

- which was-heretofore engaged by the cross pin 41' to effect an operative connection between the power piston and the pump piston rod I4, causes the pin 41 to be lifted, as shown by solid lines in Figure 4, as soon as the pin enters the inclined portion 49 of the slot 48. This position is indicated asfla. 1 e

' The water. piston l3 at this time is at the left end of the stroke, but the power piston continues to move, thereby causing the pin 41 to reach the end of the slot (position 411)) and then move this end to the dotted position shown at He. The valves 24 and 25 are then in the position of Fig- .ure 3, thereby closing the sections 26 and 21 of the valve and opening the sections 28 and 29 of'the valve 25. The valve 5| is also in its 0D- posite position for efiecting movement of the power piston 39 toward the right.

During movement toward the right, water is drawn in from the reservoir B through the connectionl9 and the check valve 3| into the left purpose of warming the water. ,With this arrangement it is unnecessary to utilize much power on the return stroke of the piston 39 as it is only necessary to lift the water from the reservoir.

Preferably, the reservoir is mounted higher than the pump to minimize the power neededto opera-te the engine E.

- At the beginning of the return stroke, the pin '41; is guided by the inclined portions 49 of the slots 48 to the position'fld, where it engages the 7 reverse side of the abutment member 16, or rather,

'a cam face IBb thereof, and pulls the rod I4 in the opposite-direction; Release of the rod is effected at the end of the stroke by the inclines 50 and the valves are operated after which the pin 41 again engages the cam l6a, as previously described in'connection with the cam [6b. Thus a At the same time, steam mechanical connection is provided which insuresa full stroke of the pump piston before the valves are changed in position and the pump piston remains stationary during the change-over.

By making the connections 20 and 21 at the desired'water level in the boiler B, the pump may be operated continuously and will maintain the desired water level. Any water that is pumped into the boiler above this level is returned through the connections 21 and22 to the reservoir, thus automatic water level control is had without the necessity of providing further automatic controls the like.

inder and a piston therein, water inlet and outlet 7 Some changes may be made in the construction andarrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, audit is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within'their scope without'sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof. "I claim as my invention: i 1. In a boiler feed pump of the character disclosed, .areciprocating'water pump having a cylconnections to one end of said cylinder, steam inlet and outlet connections to the other end of said cylinder, said-water outlet and inlet connections communicating respectively with a boiler at the water level and with a reservoir to receive water therefrom, said steam inlet and outlet connections communicating respectively with the boiler at the water level andwith the reservoir to discharge steam thereinto, power meansfor reciprocating said piston, and valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet and said steamiinlet and outlet connections, said valve means being operated, by said power means at the ends of the, stroke of said piston to open the water outlet-and the steam inlet when the piston travelsinone direction 2,11d',t0 open the water inlet-and the steam outlet when the piston travels in theother direction; j m

2. In a boiler feed'pump, a pump havinga cylinder and a piston, water inlet and outlet connections to the other end of said cylinder, said Water outlet and inlet connections respectively communicating with a. boiler and with a reservoir to receive water therefrom, said steam inlet and outlet connections respectively communicating with the boiler and with the reservoir to discharge steam thereto, power means for reciprocating said piston, and valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet connections, and between said other end 'of said cylinder "and said steam inlet and outlet connections, said valve means opening the water outlet and the steam inlet when the piston travels in one direction and opening the waterinlet and 'the steam outlet when the piston travels in the other direction.

3. In a boiler feed pump, a water pump cylinder, 3, piston therein, water inlet and" outlet "connections to one end of said cylinder, steam inlet and outlet connections to the other end of said cylinder, said water outlet and steam inlet connections communicating with a boiler, said water inlet and steam outlet connections communicating with a reservoir, power means for reciprocatin'g said piston, and valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet connections, and between said other end of said cylinder and saidsteaminlet and outlet constroke; v

stroke.

" means beingoper ated toopen thewater outletconnection and the steaminlet connectionwhen" the pistontra-vels in one-direction and: to open the water inlet connection and steam outlet connection when the piston -travelsin the other direction) '4. lnaboiler ieedipump of the character disclosed-,a reciprocatingwater pump having afcylinder and a pistontherein, water inlet and outlet connections to one end of said cylinder, steam inlet and outlet connections to the otherend of said cylinder, said water outlet and inlet connections communicating with a boiler and with a ace-9,841

todisengag e said pin from said abutment atlone end of the piston stroke, sai'cl pin thereupon 1 eneasing the end ofthe slot to move said valve engage the reverse side of the abutment? upon the reversestroke. y l d I 7. In a boiler feed pump; a waterxpump having a piston; power meansfoi': reciprocating said reservoir, said steam inlet and outlet connections communicating with the boiler and with the res ervoir, power means for reciprocating said piston, valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet connections, and

between said other end of said cylinder and said steam inlet and outlet, connections, saidvalve 1 means opening the water outletand the steam ini let connections when the piston travels in one direction and opening the water inlet and the,

steam outlet connections when the pistontravels in the other direction, and anoperative connection comprising a, pin and slot connection between i the power means and. the valve means and an abutment connectioni between the power means and the piston with said pin engaging said abutment, said slot having inclined ends operable to i disengage said pin from said abutment at one end of the piston stroke, said pin-thereupon engaging the end of the slot to move said valve means, :the incline of the slot guiding the pin to engage the reverse side of the abutment upon the reverse 5.,In a boiler feed pump of the character dis; closed, a water pump cylinder and a piston theretions to the other end of said cylinder, said water valve means an portion operable to disengage said pin from said i said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston, power means for operating'said piston andsaid valve, means, and an operative connection be-f tween said power means, and said piston and said valve means, comprising a pin and slot connecin, water inlet and outlet connections to onelend ,of said cylinder, steam inlet and outlet connecoutlet and inlet connections communicating with a boiler and with a reservoir respectively to supply and receive water, said steam inlet and outlet con:

nections communicating with the boiler and with the reservoir respectively to receive and dis charge steam, power means for reciprocating said piston, valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet connections, and between saidother end of said cylinder and said steam inlet and outlet connections, and an operative connection between said power means, and said piston and valve means, comprising a pin andslot connection between the power means and the valve means and an abutment connection between the power means and,

the piston with saidpin engaging said abutment,

said slot having inclined ends operable to disengage said pin from said abutment at one end of the piston stroke, saidlpin thereupon engaging side of the abutment upon the reverse stroke. d

10 In a boiler feed pump of the character described, a water pump having a cylinder and a the end of the slot to move said valve means, the j incline of theslot guiding the pin to engage the reverse side of the abutment upon the reverse 6. In a boiler feed, pump of the-character disclosed, a reciprocating water pump having a piston therein, power mean for reciprocating said piston,valve means for said power means, and an operative connection between said power, means, and said piston and said valve means, comprising a pin and slot connection between the power means and the valve means and'an abutment connection between the power means and the piston with said pin engaging said abutment, said slot having inclined ends operableabutment at one endof the piston stroke, said pin thereupon moving said valve means, said portion of the slot guiding; the pin to engage the reverse side of the abutment upon the reverse stroke.

8. A boiler feed pump comprising a cylinder,

and a pistoinwater and steam valves for controlling the flow of water and steam to and from tion between the power means and the valve means and an abutment connection between the power meansand the piston with said pin en gaging said abutment,said slot having inclined ends operable to disengage said pin from said abutment at one end of the piston stroke, said u pin thereupon engaging the endof the slot to move said valve means, the incline of the slot guiding the pin to engage the reverse abutment upon the reverse stroke.

9. In a boiler feed pump, a cylinder and apisside or the ton, water and steam valves for controlling the flow of water and steam to and ,from said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston, power means for operating said'ipiston and said valve, means, valve means for said, power means, and an operative connection therefor comprising a pin and slot connection between the: power means and the both of said valve means, and an abutment connectionbetween the powermeans and the piston with said pin engaging said abutment, said slot having aportion operable to disengagesaid pin from said abutment at one endof the piston stroke, said pin thereupon engaging the end of the slot to move said-valve means, said portion a of the slot guiding the pin to engage the reverse piston therein, water inlet and outlet connec tions to one end of said cylinder, steam inlet and outlet connections to the other end of said cylinder, said water outlet and inletconnections com municating with a boilerand with areservoint said steam inlet and-outlet connections com municating with the boiler and with the reservoir, power means for reciprocating said piston, and valve means between said one end of said cylinder and said water inlet and outlet con- 70 neiztions, and between said other end of said cylinder and said steam inlet and ,outletconnections, said valve means being operated by said power means, at the ends of the stroke of said piston by a pin and, slot connection toopen the water out; let and the steam inlet when the piston travels in one" directionandtoopen thewater inlet and steam outlet when the pistons travels in the other direction. i

;11. A boiler'feed purnp comprisinga cylinder and, a piston, power means for operating said piston, valve means for said pump, and an; operative connection between said power means and said piston, and betweensaid power means and saidnvalve means comprising a pin and slot coniii nection-between the power means and the valve 10 n an butme w e n eflween ili power means and the; piston with said, .p'inj enmove said valve means, the inclineof theslot abutment-upon thereverse stroke. l

WALTER. E. THOMAS.

guiding the pin to engage the reverse side of the 

